The first Conference of the Congress of Black Women Canada was convened in Toronto in 1973 by the Canadian Negro Women’s Association and chaired by the late Kate Livingstone. The enthusiastic response to Black Women coming together in support of one another resulted in subsequent conferences being held in Montreal (1974), Halifax (1976), and Windsor (1977) - where it was unanimously moved that a national organization be created. Representatives from across Canada were elected to form a National Secretariat. The Congress of Black Women of Canada was launched at the Winnipeg (1980) conference, a constitution was ratified, and a national executive council was elected.